Daddy Yankee and Nicky Jam teamed up for “Muévelo,” a single from the Bad Boys For Life soundtrack. The collaboration flips Jamaican dancehall artist Ini Kamoze’s “Here Comes the Hotstepper,” making it Daddy Yankee’s latest song to flip a ‘90s hit.
Following the intro, Nicky Jam and Daddy Yankee sing:
Na, na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na
Na-na-na, na-na-na, na-na-na-na
Na, na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na
Na-na-na, na-na-na, na-na-na-na
This mirrors the intro from “Here Comes the Hotstepper,” the Salaam Remi-produced lead single from Kamoze’s 1995 album of the same name:
Nah, na na na nah
Na na na nah, na na nah, na na nah
Na na na nah
In turn, these lines are borrowed from “Land of a Thousand Dances,” a song first written and recorded by New Orleans R&B singer Chris Kenner in 1962. The Mexican-American group Cannibal & The Headhunters added the “na na na na na” hook to their version of the track three years later, reaching No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song has since been covered by artists like Ted Nugent, Wilson Pickett, and Ike & Tina Turner.
“Here Comes the Hotstepper” spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. In addition to “Land of a Thousand Dances,” the song also interpolates “La Di Da Di” by Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick, “The Champ” by The Mohawks, and “Hot Pants” by Bobby Byrd. The beat samples “Hung Up On My Baby” by Isaac Hayes and “Heartbeat” by Taana Gardner.
This isn’t Daddy Yankee’s only song to flip a catchy ‘90s hit. In 2019, Daddy Yankee teamed up with Canadian reggae vocalist Snow for “Con Calma,” which samples Snow’s chart-topping single, “Informer.” Thanks to the Katy Perry-assisted remix, the track peaked at No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100
“Muévelo” looks poised to be a hit as well, sitting at 12 million YouTube views in two days.
To help English-speaking fans understand “Muévelo,” Genius contributor Askenax translated all the lyrics from Spanish to English. Check them out below:
[Intro: Daddy Yankee & Nicky Jam]
¡D-D-D-D-D-D-Y!
Nicky-Nicky-Nicky Jam
¡Play-N-Skillz!
It’s how we do with the new Play-N-Skillz, ah
[Bridge: Nicky Jam & Daddy Yankee]
Na, na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na
Na-na-na, na-na-na, na-na-na-na
Na, na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na
Na-na-na, na-na-na, na-na-na-na
[Chorus: Nicky Jam & Daddy Yankee]
All hands up (Move it)
With all the flow in the air (Move it)
Here everyone has fun (Move it)
We’re not gonna stop (We’re not gonna stop)
Break up the party (Move it)
We are the fire (Move it)
Excuse me, mister officer (Move it)
Today we’re going to party
[Verse 1: Nicky Jam]
This is hard, this is not easy
In the discotheque there is an apocalypse
That booty you got, baby, it’s a weapon
All the girls ready, Nicky Jam pressed the alarm
To get you down (Eh)
Try this poison I brought you (Eh)
I have to fill that garage for you
I pay homage to your body
[Pre-Chorus: Nicky Jam]
DJ, ring it, stick it and all the way down let’s go
The flow does not lower it, that this rhythm sounds comfortable
Ring it, stick it and all the way down let’s go
Don’t put him down, no
[Chorus: Nicky Jam & Daddy Yankee]
All hands up (Move it)
With all the flow in the air (Move it)
Here everyone has fun (Move it)
We’re not gonna stop (We’re not gonna stop)
Break up the party (Move it)
We are the fire (Move it)
Excuse me, mister officer (Move it)
Today we’re going to party
[Verse 2: Daddy Yankee]
Mami, follow him, I don’t get stuck (Prrr)
Bounce all those buttocks like a blank check (Wuh)
Stay with the club (Eh), shaking all that plastic
Throw it back, I’ll grind on you on autopilot
Restless (Ey), you are not a piece of furniture, for me you are flirty (Tell him)
More electric than a track from David Guetta (Tell him)
Today you the bitch took it out of the drawer-wer-wer (Eh, eh; prr)
[Pre-Chorus: Daddy Yankee]
DJ, ring it (Prr), stick it (Prr), and all the way down let’s go (Eh)
The flow does not lower it, that this is to dance it comfortable
Ring it, stick it and all the way down let’s go
Tomb the House with the rumba, yeah (Go, go; prr)
[Chorus: Nicky Jam & Daddy Yankee]
All hands up (Move it)
With all the flow in the air (Move it)
Here everyone hesitates (Move it)
We’re not gonna stop (We’re not gonna stop)
Break up the party (Move it)
We are the fire (Move it)
Excuse me, mister officer (Move it)
Today we’re going to party
[Bridge: Nicky Jam & Daddy Yankee]
Na, na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na
Na-na-na, na-na-na, na-na-na-na (We’re not gonna stop)
Na, na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na
Na-na-na, na-na-na, na-na-na-na, today we are going to rumbear
[Chorus: Nicky Jam & Daddy Yankee]
All hands up (Move it)
With all the flow in the air (Move it)
Here everyone has fun (Move it)
We’re not gonna stop (We’re not gonna stop)
Break up the party (Move it)
We are the fire (Move it)
Excuse me, mister officer (Move it)
Today we’re going to party
Read all the lyrics to Nicky Jam and Daddy Yankee’s “Muévelo” and Ini Kamoze’s “Here Comes The Hotstepper” on Genius now.
